Reading 1
Acts 6:1-7
As the number of disciples continued to grow,
the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews
because their widows
were being neglected in the daily distribution.
So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said,
“It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table.
Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men,
filled with the Spirit and wisdom,
whom we shall appoint to this task,
whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer
and to the ministry of the word.”
The proposal was acceptable to the whole community,
so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit,
also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas,
and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism.
They presented these men to the apostles
who prayed and laid hands on them.
The word of God continued to spread,
and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly;
even a large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith.
Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19
Responsorial PsalmR. (22)
Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Exult, you just, in the LORD;
praise from the upright is fitting.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
or:
R. Alleluia.
See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Reading 2
1 Pt 2:4-9
Beloved:
Come to him, a living stone, rejected by human beings
but chosen and precious in the sight of God,
and, like living stones,
let yourselves be built into a spiritual house
to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices
acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
For it says in Scripture:
Behold, I am laying a stone in Zion,
a cornerstone, chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in it shall not be put to shame.
Therefore, its value is for you who have faith, but for those without faith:
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone, and
A stone that will make people stumble,
and a rock that will make them fall.
They stumble by disobeying the word, as is their destiny.
You are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood,
a holy nation, a people of his own,
so that you may announce the praises” of him
who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Gospel
Jn 14:1-12
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled.
You have faith in God; have faith also in me.
In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.
If there were not,
would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come back again and take you to myself,
so that where I am you also may be.
Where I am going you know the way.”
Thomas said to him,
“Master, we do not know where you are going;
how can we know the way?”
Jesus said to him, I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.
If you know me, then you will also know my Father.
From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
Philip said to him,
“Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”
Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time
and you still do not know me, Philip?
Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.
How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?
The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own.
The Father who dwells in me is doing his works.
Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me,
or else, believe because of the works themselves.
Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever believes in me will do the works that I do,
and will do greater ones than these,
because I am going to the Father.”
Meditation: John 14:1-12
“Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9)
Marybeth is a born athlete, just like her father. Allie and her siblings have their mom’s flashing dark eyes and her spirit of community service. When John laughs, you’d think his dad was in the room.
An old saying tells us that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, meaning that kids are likely to take on their parents’ features, philosophies, and behaviors. And though some apples roll far from the parental tree, the likeness can still be quite remarkable.
Even so, nothing can compare to the “like Father, like Son” relationship we see in today’s Gospel!
“Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). Linger over this for a moment and consider who this Father is. He is the all-powerful Creator of the universe, the Author of life who keeps everything in existence. He is the God whose beauty, only partially revealed, dazzled Moses and made his face so radiant that people were afraid to approach him (Exodus 34:30-35). Seeing this “holy, holy, holy” Lord of hosts on his heavenly throne, Isaiah was so overcome that he feared for his life (Isaiah 6:1-5). Glorious in holiness, robed in light, majestic beyond compare—that’s the Father.
And that is the Son as well. To see the one is to see the other, for “I am in the Father and the Father is in me” (John 14:10,11). Writing about these verses, one scholar said that it is a “peak point in the mountain ranges of revelation.” The God of ages is fully and definitively revealed in human form! If you want to know what God is like and how to reach him, look to Jesus. He has given you access to every grace and spiritual gift, to an imperishable inheritance, and to none other than God himself!
“Thank you, Father, for letting me see and hear what many prophets and saints longed for. Thank you, Jesus, for revealing God’s face of love. Come, Holy Spirit, and bring me to a deeper and deeper knowledge of you.”
Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion
(Acts 6:1-7; Psalm 33:1-2,4-5,18-19; 1 Peter 2:4-9; John 14:1-12)
1. In the first reading, we see that the Holy Spirit provided the Apostles with a creative solution to their time management problems, especially how to provide a time for their spiritual life in the midst of their busyness. In what ways do you struggle to find a daily time for prayer and Scripture reading in the midst of your busyness? How often do you ask the Lord to assist you? In order to get in a daily prayer time and Scripture reading, what creative solutions can you and the Holy Spirit come up with in order that you not neglect your spiritual life and the Word of God?
2. The responsorial psalm says that our praise and worship of God is “fitting.” What are some of the reasons the psalmist gives for this praise and worship? To what extent are your times of prayer devoted to “exult,” “praise,” and “give thanks” to God versus just addressing your needs? How can you change this?
3. In the second reading, St. Peter says that we are to let ourselves “be built into a spiritual house” for God. What part do you think God wants you to be in his house? In the next few weeks, spend some time asking the Holy Spirit to let you know even more clearly what part of the house you are to be.
4. St. Peter also says we are to “announce the praises” of God who “called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” How have you experienced this in your life? In what ways are you still holding onto parts that are in the darkness?
5. Jesus speaks these words in the Gospel reading: “If you know me then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him” (John 14:7); “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (14:9); “I am in the Father and the Father is in me” (14:10,11). In what ways do you have problems believing that God the Father has the same loving, kind, gentle and merciful attributes as Jesus? Why do you think this is so?
6. The meditation ends with these words “If you want to know what God is like and how to reach him, look to Jesus. He has given you access to every grace and spiritual gift, to an imperishable inheritance, and to none other than God himself!” Do you believe this? What practical steps can you take to make this a greater reality in your life? What are you willing to commit to?
7. Take some time now to pray that you would come to know and experience more deeply the love and mercy of Jesus, and through that, to come to know the great love and mercy of your heavenly Father. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as the starting point.
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